176 CALIFORNIA. 



visit there, a life was lost by the cuchillo. This weapon is always 

 worn, and is promptly resorted to in all their quarrels. 



The female portion of the community are ignorant, degraded, and 

 the slaves of their husbands. They are very fond of dress, and will 

 make any sacrifice, even their own honour, to gratify it. The men 

 have no trades, and depend for every thing upon the Indians at the 

 missions, some of whom are quite ingenious, both as carpenters and 

 blacksmiths. The whites are so indolent, and withal have so much 

 pride, as to make them look upon all manual labour as degrading; in 

 truth, they regard all those who work as beneath them; they, in con- 

 sequence, can never be induced to labour. An anecdote was related 

 to me of one who had been known to dispense with his dinner, although 

 the food was but a few yards off, because the Indian was not at hand 

 to bring it to him. 



The state of morals here is very low, and is every day becoming 

 worse. During the residence of the old Spanish priests, the people 

 were kept under some control ; but since the change I have narrated, 

 priest and layman are alike given up to idleness and debauchery. One 

 thing they are said to be remarkable for, which is their extreme hospi- 

 tality : it is alleged that they will give up all business to entertain a 

 guest. They put no value whatever upon time, and in entering into 

 contracts they have no regard to punctuality, frequently allowing two, 

 three, and four years to pass by before payment. This does not pro- 

 ceed from dishonesty, or any intention to evade their debts, for eventu- 

 ally they pay, if they can, and do not object to the amount of interest. 

 They in fact regard the inconvenience to which they may have put 

 their creditors as of no sort of consequence. 



I understood that to offer money for entertainment was considered 

 as an insult; but I did it notwithstanding, and although it was refused 

 from myself, yet, when made through my servant, it was readily ac- 

 cepted. While one is entertained by them, if he should want to hire 

 or purchase any thing, the landlord will league with those about him 

 in schemes of extortion to be practised upon the stranger, and appear 

 vexed with those who are the prominent extortioners. Instances of 

 this will be given hereafter. 



The Californians, as a people, must be termed cruel in their treat- 

 ment to their wives, as well as to the Indians ; and in a still greater 

 degree, of course, to their slaves and cattle. They are exceedingly 

 ignorant of every thing but extortion, riding horses, and catching 

 bullocks. 



Having thus thrown together the general information I was able to 



